Xref: utzoo can.politics:2004 can.francais:93
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!alberta!ubc-cs!van-bc!sl
From: sl@van-bc.UUCP (pri=-10 Stuart Lynne)
Newsgroups: can.politics,can.francais
Subject: Re: Notwithstanding clause -- truly a sad day for Canada
Message-ID: <2052@van-bc.UUCP>
Date: 22 Dec 88 23:41:48 GMT
References: <1988Dec13.133220.28851@lsuc.uucp> <4321@hcr.UUCP> <809@auvax.UUCP> <230@electro.UUCP> <2521@looking.UUCP> <560@cavell.UUCP> <10@rsoft.UUCP>
Reply-To: sl@van-bc.UUCP (pri=-10 Stuart Lynne)
Distribution: can
Organization: Wimsey Associates, Vancouver, BC.
Lines: 30

In article <10@rsoft.UUCP> frank@rsoft.UUCP (Frank I. Reiter) writes:
>In article <560@cavell.UUCP> gilles@cavell.UUCP (Gilles Simon Dionne) writes:
>>
>>were in Swahili only? Would you not be bothered by the fact that the
>>merchants didn't have the decency to advertise in your language(English)?

I havn't seen any signs in swahili lately, but when I go downtown there's
lots of stores with signs in Chinese, a few Italian etc. Doesn't bother me
one bit.

>I could understand a law that demanded that all Swahili signs also be posted
>in English or French, but I cannot agree with a law that prohibits Swahili
>signs altogether.  I must agree with Braqd, this is a very sad thing for
>Canada.

I agree.  What I'd like to know is whether it would be possible to challenge
the validity of the notwithstanding clause in the supreme court. Anybody
like to comment.

Failing that, I would like to propose that all other nine provinces pass laws
prohibiting the use of French on exterior signs until such time as the
Quebec law is withdrawn. Not the use of Chinese, Italian, Swahili, just
French.

Also, I would like to propose that Federal civil servants be required to 
use only English in their jobs if they are outside of Quebec. Again you can
tie this to withdrawal of the Quebec law.

-- 
Stuart.Lynne@wimsey.bc.ca {ubc-cs,uunet}!van-bc!sl     Vancouver,BC,604-937-7532